(May 25): Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today told Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to stop playing politics in the ongoing spat between the opposition-led state and the federal government over the use of Penang to shelter Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants.

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, accused the Umno minister of venting the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) pact's frustrations on Penang after failing to capture the Permatang Pauh seat at the by-election earlier this month.

"Don't be silly, don't play petty politics, be a responsible minister and do your duty. I know you're bitter because you lost Permatang Pauh but this is not the way," he told reporters at the parliament lobby today.

Zahid yesterday challenged the Penang government to prove its human rights credentials by sheltering the Rohingya and Bangladeshi refugees, thousands of whom are stranded in boats at sea after being abandoned by people smugglers.

Lim had previously said while the state was willing to cooperate with Putrajaya on matters related to national security, he had insisted that the federal government place the refugees on federal lands, citing lack of space in Penang island and its mainland.

The Kedah government had also said it could not accommodate a flood of Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants, and it wanted both Putrajaya and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to help out.

Hitting out at Zahid, Lim said today the minister must stop acting immaturely and do his duty to defend the interests of the nation instead of playing politics with national security.

He said Penang had stated its willingness to cooperate with the federal government but said it needed the resources to tackle the problem, namely the navy, police and Immigration Department, which lay with Putrajaya.

Earlier at the Parliament lobby, Zahid had said he has never politicised the issue.

"This is not about politics, it is a humanitarian issue," he said.

More than 1.3 million Rohingyas, viewed by the UN as one of the world's most persecuted minorities, live in Myanmar's western Rakhine state.

Fleeing persecution, these refugees usually make their way to Malaysia on rickety boats via people smugglers.

After coming under fire for turning away refugees adrift at sea, Malaysia and Indonesia, on May 20, announced that they would no longer turn away boat people.

Even Myanmar also softened its line on the issue, offering to help provide humanitarian assistance to stricken migrants. – The Malaysian Insider